Attoenets



`No Model.)

A. FAVIBR.

BXPLOSIVB AND METHOD 0F MAKING THB SAME. No. 393.634. Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

// V f a.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

UNITED. PSfrATFs "PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR FAv1ER,oF PARIS, FRANCE.

VEXPLOSIVE AND METHOD OF MAKING ATHE ISAME..

SPBCIFICATIQN forming part. of lLetters Patent No. 393,634, dated November 27 Appui-anon inea september 1, isst. serial No. 115,118.. (N model.) Patented in France July 21, issu, No. 1m e' May 27, 1884, No. 31,411, and n England February 16, 1885, No. 2.139.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatd, ARTHUR FAVIER, of Paris, France, have invented a newand Iinproved Explosive` Compound, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France, N o'. 156,659, dated July 21.l 1883; in.Germany,:No. 31,411,dated May 27, 1884, and in England, No. 2,139, dated February 16, 1885,) of which' the following is a full, clear, and exact description. I have sought to replace the nitrated organic explosives by compositions which are more stable, more easily prepared, less expensive, and which are not affected by frost, and I have s ueceeded by the use of means which will he described hereinafter. Toobtain explosive mixtures ,as powerful as dynamite containingseventy-live percent. of nitrogly/cerine, I use nitrate of ammonia to which a hydrocarbon has been added to combine with the excess of oxygen which the nitrate contains,'in the form of carbonio acid or steam; but to obtain this result 1t is necessary to increase the density of this nitrate and to over# come its hygroscopic properties. For this reason I choose the combustible body to be mixed with the nitrate from fats, natural or slightly nitrated hydrocarburet, resins, Ste., which are fusible at a low temperature.' The hydrocarbon ehosen-paratlne, for example-is mixed with the nitrate, which has previously been pulverized and desiccated. The mixture is then placed in a mold, where it can be given any desired forni by subjecting it to pressure. To facilitate the mixing of theparts and to obtain a suitable density, it is preferable to suhjcct it to heat at the same time that it is being pressed. For this purpose the molds in which the compression takes place are heated by pipes containing hot water orl steam to the temperature at which the hydrocarburet fuses; or the substances may be heated to this temperature in the vessel in which they are mixed. Under the united influence of the heat andgpressnre the substances mix, the hydrocarburet covering particles of the nitrate with .a protective envelope, then exudes slightly and ."orlns a protective varnish on the exterior, the thickness of which can be increased by plunging the mixture, when taken from the molds, into amelted hydrocarbon. Thepressure employed Varies; with the density desired. For exm ple,,to obtain a density of 1.7 for cartridges of nitrate of ammonia a pressure o f three hundred atmospheres may be required. There vca n be employed for the purpose either a hydraulic pressure of required power-or apparatus used in the manufacture of gun-cotton or of compressed gunpowder.

For the manufacture of less powerful explosives I use nitrate of soda, either alone or mixed with nitrate of ammonia. and with any composition which can part with the hydrogen which it contains. Before compressing this mixture sulphur may be added to reduce the temperature at which it is changed to gas.

The mixture of nitrate of ammonia and a hydrocarburet, with or without sulphur, having a density of 1.6, is-very stable and does not explode, as nitrated bodies do. under the influence of a fulminatingca Consequently to cause these bodies to explode I have to use intermediate bodies, which are brought into contact with as much as possible of the mixture to be exploded. Y

As an explosive forthe mixture, I prefer to use a very explosive body-such as gun-cotton-having been previously inclosed in a highly-fusible hydrocarburet.

The quantity of gun-cotton or chlorate, &c., used for causing the explosion of the mixture .is about equal to one-tenth of the weight of said mixture. I thus obtain an explosive which is very powerful, is inexpensive, can easily be transported and stored, and is not affected by the frost, as are the explosives having nitro-glycerine as a base.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a cartridge made of my improved explosive mixture, said cartridge having a longitudinal bore. Fig.4 2 is a similar view showing an explosive cap in the cartridge. Fig. 3 is acrosssectional view on'the line a: ai, Fig. 2. Fig. 4

is a longitudinal sectional view of the cap. Y

, sections.

,closed by disks. Fig. 6 isl a.crossseetional One of tliespecialy advantages of my im- 3I view of a spherical cartridge formed of two Fig. 7v is a similar view showingthe two sections detached.

A is a cartridge composed of a mixture of nitrate of ammonia and a h yd rocarb u ret-such as parainwhieh cartridge has a longitudinal bore, B.

C is au explosive cartridge or shell containing any suitable fniniinate, which can beplaeed in the bore of the cartridge A. When the fulminate is ignited, it explodes and ignites the explosive cartridge A. As shown in Fig. 5, the bore of the cartridge is filled with dynamite or any otherhighlyexplosive mass, the

ends ofthe bore being closed by suitable stop-.

pers of paraine or: like substance, D. The dynamite is exploded and in turn ignites the explosive cartridge.

As shownV in Figs. 6 and 7, the cartridges can bevmade of two hemispheres, G, com posed of my improved explosive mixture, and each .provided in its center with an aperture,AH, containing an explosive mixture, J, such as dynamite, gun-cotton, Ste. Said cartridges are K also provided with a channel, K, for containing the fulminate or cap, which channel can be closed by a plug, L, of paraffine orlike material.

proved cartridge is that the mixture forming the same is not exploded very easily, and is very safe when being transported or stored, as the fulminate used for firing the cartridge can he left out and not placed in position in eentral aperture until the cartridge is to bc used.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent.-

1. As anew article of manufacture, an explosive consisting of a highly-compressed intermixturclof a nitrate and a hyd roearlion, as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The method' of producing the hereinbeforedescribed explosive, consisting in intimately mixing together a pulverized nitrate, such as Specified, and a waterproof hydrocarbon fusible at a low temperature, and then agglomcrating said mixture under high pressure, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

The foregoing specification of my improve* ment in new explosive compounds signed by me.

Anirmm Farina.

iVitnesses:

Rom. M. IIooPER, A. E.. iovnnmnn.' 

